Reading, Watching, Listening

Reading:

Two charity shop finds have entertained me this week. The first was my lover’s lover by Maggie O’Farrell.  We did The Vanishing Act of Esmee Lennox at the book group and enjoyed it so was happy to pick up another of hers. I actually loved the premise of this story – a woman seeing the ghost of her lover’s former lover all over the place. It was a book about emotions and jealousy and insecurity and half-truths with some exceptional writing.  The one thing that spoiled it for me was the ending so am reluctant to recommend it. No, that’s not fair – the rest of it is really good so go for it if you can bear a poor ending. Just make up your own like I did.

The second book was The Miracles of Santo Fico by D L Smith. This is a book about love and miracles and forgiveness set in a forgotten village in Tuscany.  Father Elio is having a spiritual crisis and Leo orchestrates a miracle to set things right. There is humour and a light touch to what would be great holiday reading.

Watching:

This week I have watched the first series of Black Books, the comedy series with Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig co-written with Graham Linehan (Father Ted). I had forgotten quite how funny this is so there has been much clutching of stitches. (And it was only £9.88 for the boxed set of 3 series so not to be missed.)

My sister loaned me a boxed set of The Lakes which was a series on BBC1 in the late 90s by Jimmy McGovern. I couldn’t understand why I had never even heard of this until I remembered that I didn’t watch TV from 1996-2000 which were my University years. Us oldies needed to study, study, study into the wee small hours. The series was set in the Lake District so beautiful views and back-drops but was very dark.  Murder, mayhem, sex and more sex, rape – it was all there by the bucketload. Good though.

Son #1 persuaded me to get The World’s Fastest Indian and we watched that one night. It stars Anthony Hopkins as a New Zealander (bad accent Anthony) who wants to enter the world speed record on a motorcycle – the Indian of the title. This is such a feel-good movie and really heartwarming. (Film group will see it soon!)

Also have watched the 1st series of Life on Mars which also passed me by. I was more than a little disappointed to find that I now have to watch the second series to find out if he gets back or not.  However, it was mildly amusing and passed an hour or so.

Listening:

Oh such joy since I discovered Spotify.  I’m sure it was one of the young people in the SEC who mentioned it in a blog or on Facebook and I’m so glad they did. Now I get to listen to all my favourite music on my computer without changing cds etc.  Found lots of my old vinyl on it which is probably unplayable now, having moved house a dozen times and they are still living in the garage. The ads are short and fairly unobtrusive too so bearable. Download it now! You won’t regret it.

And who have I been listening to?  Well since you ask… Bach, Dr Hook, Nick Drake, Faure, Barbra Streisand and Craig Armstrong.

 

Holiday update

Spent an hour in the chair with the lovely Pedro this morning having a little root canal treatment. Nothing better for your holiday enjoyment. Of course, now that he’s done it he reckons it won’t hold so I need a cap or crown. I am rather weary of the whole affair and fed up eating soft food (missing filling on other side too).

So what else have I done with this well-earned holiday?  3 DVDs have been watched while it poured rain outside. They were: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (loved the book and love the movie); Doubt (scary Meryl Streep and scary story of nuns and a priest); Quantum of Solace (not short of car/boat/plane/people chases).

I’ve also done a bit of ferrying around of Son #1 and we haven’t been near a Historic Scotland site yet. Next week…

Oh yes, and I gave up smoking. Now on Day 5 and its a breeze. Thank you Champix.

Son of Man

Watched the new Son of Man DVD yesterday and it was fabulous. It was shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival this year and I missed it so have been looking out for the DVD. The cast (South African) are from The Mysteries which is another of my favourites.

It tells the story of Jesus’ life set in modern South Africa. Do watch the extras too which explains it a bit more. The music is moving (and some will be recognised by those who have seen The Mysteries). The language is Xhosa and English with subtitles (not great ones – v small) but don’t let that put you off. The image of the Pieta will stay with me for a long time. And the angels were just divine.

As the blurb says : Mel Gibson look and learn.

Your church should watch it.

Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull

It being my day off, Son #2 and I went to the flicks to see the latest Indiana Jones and what a disappointment. Bad script, lousy and unbelievable story, terrible use of stunt doubles, and poor continuity. Poor old Son #2 has been looking forward to this for such a long time and was livid after. And why did the baddies have to be Russians? I thought we’d got over all that.

We had more fun watching the trailers and its not often I say that.

The Golden Compass

Forgot to tell you what I did on my day off this week. (Well, half day, actually.) Having worked all morning I decided to sit down and watch a movie which is becoming a rare event these days. Who has two hours to spare? Anyway, I watched The Golden Compass and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I did read the book when it first came out but my memory’s not what it could be these days so I can’t really comment if it stuck to the book or not. And I dare say bits were missed out because of time constraints. But I thought it was wonderful and the special fx were amazing. Lots of well known faces too.

Son #2 watched it too and was miffed that I hadn’t told him it was part one of a trilogy. I know what he means. I hate when I get to the end of a programme and its says ‘to be continued’.

A bit like the Ascension really, when you come to think about it. (Oh no, I’m starting to sound like someone on Late Call!”)

Hairspray

Last night a select group gathered to watch Hairspray. What a great movie/musical. I can’t wait to see it on stage. Good messages too – fat is fine and black and white belong together. Some good oneliners too.

My only complaint would be that the backing track was too loud to allow you to hear all the words of the songs. But we could have had the subtitles up, I suppose.

Holy Week begins

Palm Sunday was a most joyous occasion at St M’s with a packed church (69 adults and 11 children). The children led the Liturgy of the Palms and read beautifully. The Passion narrative was moving as ever and we left with no coffee to disturb our mood.

Last night 10 of us gathered in a dark room to watch The Mysteries – a South African company’s version of the Chester medieval mystery plays. All were moved (me to tears several times, surprisingly considering I’ve seen it umpteen times) and we had a good discussion after. If only we could be as unrestrained in our hymn singing on Easter day!

Tonight and tomorrow its candlelit Compline with a wee meditation on Koder’s paintings, followed by Confession in the Crypt chapel.

I think Maundy Thursday’s marathon is sorted but Good Friday’s 3 hours are looming fast and the page is still looking blank. Silence would be good, right?

Into Great Silence

Last night G and I went to see Into Great Silence and what a marathon it was! Nearly 3 hours long and most of it in complete silence (apart from the rustling of sweety papers from the group behind us).

The visuals were exceptional including the ones which looked as if they had been taken with a mobile phone. Images which have stuck in my mind include: prayer; a young man applying ointment to an old man; prayer; shaving heads; prayer; monks sliding down a snow slope amidst laughter; prayer; making habits; prayer; bread and fruit; prayer; the sacrament; prayer; darkness and shadows; prayer; cells and solitude; prayer; digging snow; prayer; a blind monk happy in the love of God; prayer; cats; prayer; dripping water and an argument about ritual; and prayer.

I liked it. No, I loved it. And so did G, thank goodness, because I had dragged him along and you really don’t want to inflict 3 hours of torture on a friend.

Carthusians are supposed to be the most austere order and I know I wouldn’t last 5 minutes. However, it is good to know that they are out there doing all that praying.

A nun’s story

Yesterday I watched the Nun’s Story with Audrey Hepburn – gosh, she is beautiful even with a wimple. It is a film of it’s time and the scenes in the Congo are atrociously patronising. In fact it gave me lots to think about regarding overseas mission work – and not all good.

At the end of it all she decides not to stay as a nun, preferring to be a nurse. Mother Superior, who by the way is described to her as Christ’s representative in the convent – so why do the RC church have such a problem with women priests? Mother Superior tries to persuade her to stay but once she is convinced that she has made up her mind, the frosty face takes over and Sister Luke is made to sign a document, given her father’s dowry back and told to go to a room where her clothes are. No fond farewells, no kind words, no counselling, just banishment. “Ring the bell when you are ready and the door will be opened.”

This is Hollywood, I kept thinking to myself. Drama, that’s all. But then a friend phoned who has recently come out of a convent. “It’s just like that,” she said, “but worse.” No dowries nowadays to be handed back to help you on your way. Still no counselling or support offered. No help given.

And that friend did get a job as a hospital chaplain but is still struggling financially to cope with furnishing a house, buy a car, clothe herself, pay council tax and everything else that life has thrown at her.

The Church needs to do something about this. We are not good at looking after our clergy and those in religious orders, at caring for them pastorally. Who helps the helpers? What they need is a half-way house. Any offers?

There, that’s my rant for the day over.

Films and stuff

Still catching up on films I haven’t had time to watch. Yesterday it was Kingdom of Heaven. A good old knight’s tale. And Orlando Bloom was seriously cute in it.

Also watched the new series of CSI. No mention of the bedroom scene which finished the last series. We want to know!

Sort of missing Celebrity Big Brother in a kind of car-crash voyeurism sort of way. I do love watching people and of course all the big stories were in this series. Still not sure that there was any more bullying or bitchiness in this one than there has been in the past. The only difference this time was the race question and the media rottweilers chewing it all up. But sadly a reflection of real life.

Enjoyed the new episode of ‘celebrities’ working as Auxiliary Nurses. I did that for a few years in Simpsons Maternity Hospital and all I got to do was clean incubators, run around with blood samples, empty bins and answer the phone. I certainly did not get to bath babies or indeed help to deliver them. Guess you have to be a ‘celebrity’ to do that.

All very enjoyable but I’d still rather be able to read. And get back to work.